Forward and reverse gearing for wringer drives



Oct. 10, 1950 c. T. BEE 2,525,392

FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARING FOR WRINGER DRIVES Filed Oct. 21, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 10, 1950 c. T. BEE 2,525,392

FoRwARD AND REVERSE GEARING FOR WRINGER DRIVES Filed Oct. 21, 1944 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invert-(27 Oct. 10, 1950 c. T. BEE 2,525,392

FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARING FOR WRINGER DRIVES F iled Oct. 21, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet a @ct. 10, 1950 c. T. BEE

FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARING FOR WRINGER DRIVES Filed 001:. 21, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 a t A w III/III? favenz afi' czgyard 586 Oct. 10, 1950- c. 'r. BEE 2,525,392

FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARING FOR WRINGER DRIVES Filed Oct 21, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fizz/sai or Patented Oct. 10, 1950 FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARING FOR 'WRINGER DRIVES Clifford T. Bee, Muskegon, Mich., assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 21, 1944, Serial No. 559,758 3 Claims. (01. 74 s7s) The present invention relates to a wringer and more particularly to a mechanism for driving the rollers of a laundry wringer in forward or reverse directions, or to run idly while the washin machine is being operated. The improvements are especially applicable to wringers of the domestic type.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to simplify the construction and assembly of a wringer actuating mechanism such as contemplated herein, and to improve the efficiency, operation and dependability of such wringer mechanism. 7

It is also a principal object of this invention to provide acompact drive mechanism for a wringer, it being an object to connect such mechanism with the motor that actuates the washing machine or an agitator therein, by an improved means comprising a flexible shaft arrangement.

Another principal object hereof is to provide a hollow column on a wall of a washing machine body for housing the flexible shaft connection between the motor and the wringer head.

A still further object hereof is the provision of a unitary or built-in assembly for transmitting power from a suitable driving means to the wringer, the said assembly including reversing reduction gearing and a worm and worm wheel, whereby to facilitate the assembly of the structure with the wringer. In this connection, a flexible drive shaft from the motor is mounted on the body or support of the washing machine, preferably extending around the confines of the tub, and so arranged that it may be readily coupled to the transmission assembly within the wringer head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a housing in the form of a column for the power shaft between the motor and the wringer head, and to support said head upon the upper portion of said column with the wringer preferably in overhanging relation to the washer tub. By reason of this arrangement the column for the shaft affords the means upon which the wringer and head may be swung into a position away from the washing machine body or tub.

Additional objects, aims and advantages of this invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation of the wringer mechanism is understood from the Within description.

It is preferred to accomplish the numerous objects of this invention and to practice the same in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification in which: V

Fig. 1 is a vertical side elevation, partly in broken away section, of a domestic washing machine and wringer showing the present improvement incorporated therein; 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section of the wringer driving mechanism for transmissions which embodies the present invention, the view being along the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 3, and drawn full size;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken alon the plane of line 33 on Fig. 2 looking down in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary vertical section along the plane of line 4-4 on Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 5 is a vertical axial section, similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified assembly, the View being taken along the plane of line 5-5 on Fig. 6; V

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken along the plane of line 66 on Fig. 5 looking down in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing the drive shaft arrangement of the modified structures disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6.

These drawings are to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of disclosing typical or preferred forms of the improvements contemplated herein, and in these drawings like reference characters identify the same parts in the different views. For the purpose of the present disclosure, there is shown a washing machine comprising a stationary tub having therein an agitator operated by a motor that is mounted beneath the tub. It will be understood that the improvements are applicable to other types of washing machines.

The structure shown in Fig. 1 comprises a Washing machine tub It! supported upon suitable legs II and provided below its bottom with a U compartment I2 housing an electric motor l3. An agitator I4 (shown in dotted lines within the tub) is actuated by a transmission mechanism driven by the motor I3 that permits the operation of the agitator to be discontinued when the wringer is being used.

One of the supports or legs I I is elongated in a vertical direction to provide a hollow column IS on the exterior of the tub I!) that is adapted to house a transmission shaft l6 that is prefer: ably of the flexible type. Thelower portion of Reference is now made to the shaft l6 extends beneath the tub or washing machine body where its end is connected to the mechanism that actuates the washing machine. As shown, the shaft is coupled to the shaft of motor 3 that is part of the drive mechanism. The upper end of flexible shaft l6 has a separable coupling ll detachably connecting the shaft IE to a'short'actuator shaft l8 that is preferably a part of the transmission unit for driving the wringer.

By reason of this arrangement, the flexible or other transmission shaft extends outside the confines of the washing machine body. The wringer assembly, identified generally as l9, comprises the rollers and 2|, the latter being a drive roller geared to the other roller 2|] so that the rollers rotate in opposite direction. The wringer rollers are journalled in a housing 22 of any suitable shape, being yieldably tensioned by a hand knob 23 and a release member 23a is provided for quickly releasing the tension on the rollers. The wringer assembly I9 is carried by the head structure 24, and is arranged to overhang the top of the washing machine body or tub, l0. A seen in Fig. 1 the flexible transmission shaft l6 extends outside the confines of the washing machine body. r

The transmission gearing for driving th wringer is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 wherein it will be seen that it comprises a unitary assembly that is adapted to be readily coupled or uncoupled from the transmission shaft l6 and from the spindle 2|a of the driving roller 2| of the wringer. An irregularly shaped casting,

identified. generally as 25 lFig. 2), has a hollow 1.

tubular extension 26 projecting below it that surrounds the upper portion of the tubular column 5 and has a shouldered inner portion 21 resting upon a bushing 28 at the upper end edge of the column I5. A vertically elongated hollow extension 25a is formed at one side of the casting 25 and is disposed to be readily attached to the wringer assembly |9 in any suitable manner. This arrangement permits the casting 25, and the wringer assembly I9 to be swung into different positions with relation to the top of the tub.

Axially aligned with the cylindrical extension 26 there is a stub 34 having a bore 29 for journalling the actuator shaft 39, the lower end of which is formed with a portion of the coupling .l'! for connecting this shaft to the flexible shaft I 6 as seen in Fig. 2. A snap ring 3| is seated in an annular channel 32 in the actuator shaft for engagement with the adjacent portion of the casting 25 to maintain the actuator shaft '39 Y against upward movement. The inner or upper end of actuator shaft is preferably formed with *a worm 33, the hub of which rests upon the top of the boss 34 in which actuator shaft 30 is journalled.

The upper portion of casting 25 is formed with a wide cylindrical wall 35 that has a bored radial boss 36 and-there is an inwardly extending boss 31 at the opposite side of said wall 35. The axes of these bosses 36 and 31 are transverse to the 4. These pinions and 4| are the bevel or miter gear type and their hubs are provided with lugs 40a and Ma. that are adapted to be selectively entered into sockets or clutch seats 39a, and 39b in the respective sides of the hub of the worm wheel 39 when said worm wheel is shifted on the countershaft 38 in one direction or the other. A miter gear 42 having a hollow hub 43 is journalled for rotation in the bored boss 3? of the casting wall 35, and it is positioned so that its teeth are constantly meshed with both of the miter pinions 40 and 4| as seen in Fig. 3.

The inner portion of the hollow hub 63 of the miter gear 42 has a tongue or key 44 of tapered form to fit into a tapered slot or seat 45 in the adjacent end of a coupling sleeve 46. The opposite portion of the coupling sleeve 45 has an irregularly shaped recess 47 a portion of which is of convex contour as shown at 48 in Fig. 2 to engage with the adjacentend of the roller spindles Zla to permit a slight rocking of the coupling with respect to the spindle. A flattened portion 49 on the spindle engages a corresponding flat portion (not shown) on the wall of the recess 4'! so that rotation of the miter gear 42 will actuate the spindle 2|a and drive the wringer rollers 2| and 20. j I

The worm wheel 39 is shifted longitudinally on the countershaft 38 by means of a U-shaped yoke 50, the spaced arms 5|. of which have beadlike projections 52 that ride upon and bear against the sides of the worm wheel 39 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The shift yoke 5!] has a bar 52 secured to it that projects horizontally beyond the arms 5| where its ends are connected by pivot pins 53 to a pair of swinging parallel links 54. The other ends of the links 54 are movably connected by pivot pins 55 to a shelf 56 that forms a portion of the boss 34 above which said shelf extends. There isfian L-shaped bar 51 anchored to the top of bar 52 and projects transversely thereto with its down turned arm portion extending towards the top of the worm 33 as seen in Fig. 2. The L-shaped bar 51 has a vertical longitudinal slot 58 to receive a cam element in the form of a pin 59 projecting eccentrically from the end of a rock spindle 60 that is rotatably mounted in the bore of the exteriorly projecting boss 36 before mentioned. This rock spindle is rotatable in one direction or the other by a handle 6| at its other end that projects through the metal casing 24a for housing the wringer head and the transmission mechanism.

Within the bearing boss 36 the rock spindle 69 has an annular groove 62 in the face of which there are dimples 63 for seating the ball 64 of a selector ball latch as shown in Fig. 2. This ball is pressed inwardly by a spring 65 in the lower end of a small bore 66 in the bearing boss 36, the outer end of the spring being retained by a disc 6'! to snap the-ball 64 into one of the dimples 63 for removably retaining the rock spindle 66 in the different positions into which it may be moved by the handle 6|.

Latching means are provided for maintaining the swinging wringer assembly in operative and nonoperative positions such as in overlying relation to the tub or when it has been swung away from the tub. The latching means, shown in detail in Fig. 2, preferably comprises an elongated vertical plunger 68 the axis of which is arranged transverse to the rock spindle 66 and parallel to actuator shaft 36. The upper end of plunger 68 is normally disposed in an annular groove or channel 62 in rock Spindle 66 to prevent longitudinal movement of the rock spindle and also to allow said spindle to'be rotated without interference from theplunger 88. The lower portion of the plunger 88 is reciprocably mounted in a bore 89 in the cylindrical extension 28 at the bottom of the casting 28, and itslower end has a tapered portion it that is adapted to seat in a V-shaped notch ii in the upper edge of the column I5. There are a plurality of these notches, as seen in Fig. 2 and said plunger is adapted to be withdrawn from a notch by moving it upwardly so that its upper end will enter a transverse seat 72 extending radially into the rock spindle from the annular 'channelt'i thereof. Above its tapered portion the plunger has a box-like operating member or bracket 73 anchored to it by a screw ii, and said plunger is normally maintained in a retracted position out of the seat '52 by means of a'spring i i surrounding the plunger between bracket l3 and a sleeve 18 on the plunger that abuts the outside surface of the bearing boss 38. Whenever it is desired to swing the wringer assembly from one to the other of its positions, the bracket member 13 is pushed upwardly thereby disengaging the tapered end T8 of the plunger from the socket if and at the same time the upper end of the plunger will enter the recess l2. fter the wringer assembly has been moved a slight distance in a rotary manner the bracket member '13 may be released and the plunger '58 will ride upon the bushing 28 until it snaps into the next notch ll thereby locking the wringer assembly in its new position. The seat i2 is arranged in the rock spindle 88 in a position relative to the cam element 58 so that the worm-wheel 89 will be midway the bevel pinions 48 and 8! so that the clutch devices are all disengaged and the wr'inger rollers 28 and 2! are not rotating.

When the worm-wheel 39 is in a neutral position, such as shown in tits coupling or clutch members 38a and 3% will be disengaged from the lugs 38:1, and ilo on the respective pinions 68 and 41. At this time the actuator shaft 38 will be rotated by the flexible shaft Hi from the motor and the worm-wheel 38 will rotate freely. When it is desired to drive the wringer in a forward or reverse direction the handle (it is moved to rotate the rock spindle 88 in the proper direction, and the cam element 58 at the end of said rock spindle will move in a direction to shift the yoke 58 to move the worm wheel into clutched engagement with either of the gears 88 or 4!, depending upon the direction in which it is desired to rotate the gear 82 for driving the wringer roller in a forward or reversed direction.

The modified wringer drive assembly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 functions in substantially the same manner as the transmission or drive assembly hereinbefore described, and for the purpose of simplicity the parts in this modified structure that correspond with those in the first described structure have been identified by the same reference characters.

Fig. 7 shows the flexible shaft l6 extending from the motor shaft into the column l where it is connected by a coupling Mia to a non-flexible shaft [8b extending upwardly in the column and connected by a coupling Ha to actuator shaft 38. The worm-wheel 89a in this modifled structure (Fig. 6) is driven by the worm 33 and it is rotatably mounted upon the countershaft 38. The hub of this worm-wheel 390, has lugs or abutments 88 upon opposite sides for engagement with a radially disposed pin 8| that passes through the countershaft 38 so that the rotation of the worm-wheel 39a in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) will turn the countershaft in a corresponding direction, and the pins 8| will prevent longitudinal movement of the worm.- wheel 39a upon the countershaft. Gears or pinions 82 and 83 are loosely mounted on countershaft 38 for sliding movement longitudinally thereon. As shown in Fig. 6 these gears have annular slots 82a and 83a respectively that extend transversely through the teeth. These pinions 82 and 83 are meshed with the gear 42a, having a hub 43 similar to the hub of the bevel gear 42 in the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and is journalled in the boss 31 of the casting 25 for actuating the spindle Zia of the wringer roller. The respective hubs of pinions 82 and 83 are provided with suitable abutments 84 and 85, one of which will be engaged with a pin 8| whenever its pinion has been shifted so that its abutment is in the path of rotation of the respective pin 8|. Thus, when abutment 85 is engaged with its adjacent pin 8| the pinion 83 will rotate in a direction to drive the gear 42a in one direction, and when the abutment 84 on the pinion 82 is engaged with the other pin Bl' the gear 42a will be rotated in a reverse direction. When both pins 8| are disengaged from the abutments 84 and 85, neither pinion '82 or 83 will rotate and the gear 42a will be stationary so that the wringer rollers 20 and 2| are not opera ed.

The means for shifting the pinions 82 and 83 into operative relation with respect to the countershaft pins 81 comprises a yoke member, the connecting piece 86 of which is vertically disposed and is guided in a channel or groove 81 made in the shelf portion 56 so that said yoke has sliding movement within certain limits. The

arms 88 and 88 of the yoke extend respectively towards the pinions 82 and 83, and the ends of these arms remote to the cross piece 88 are provided with semi-circular recesses 88a and 89a that are engaged respectively in the annular channels or grooves 82a and 83a in the pinions 82 and 83. A vertically elongated slot 98 in the connecting member 88 of the yoke receives the cam element or eccentric pin 59 on the adjacent end of the rock spindle 68. By reason of this arrangement, the rotative movement of the rock spindle 88 in one direction or the other will slide the yoke in a direction to engage an abutment on one of the pinions 82 or 83 with an adjacent pin 8|.

The rock spindle 88 carries a radial stop pin 9| operating in a semi-circular recess 92 at the adjacent end of the bearing boss 36, the ends of which recess 82 being adapted to limit the rotational movement of the rock spindle whenever the pin 9! has moved into engagement therewith. The selector ball latch in this modification is mounted in a transverse bore 93 and comprises a pair of balls 84 urged in opposite directions by a spring 95 to seat the balls in pairs of dimples 96 in the bore of boss 38. It will be seen from the foregoing that the operation of the modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is the same as in the first described form with the exception that the worm gear or worm wheel 39a does not slide longitudinally on the countershaft 38, and also that the gear 42a and pinions 82 and 83 are not of the miter or bevel gear type.

In both types of the improvements contemplated herein the wringer rollers 28 and 2! are actuated by a speed reduction gearing or transmission assembly in the wringer head 25. The power for operating this assembly is ordinarily derived from the means which drives the agitating devices of the washing machine, such power being transmitted to the wringer head by shafting at least a portion of which is of the flexible type and is located outside the confines of the tub. It will, of course, be apparent that the flexible shaft 16 need not be coupled direct to the motor l3 as shown herein but it may be connected with and actuated by the transmission or gearing which is usually interposed between the motor and agitating devices.

While this invention has been described in detail in its present preferred form or embodiment, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, after understanding the improvements, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. It is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications.-

I claim:

1. A wringer drive for laundry apparatus comprising a supporting head; rotatable actuator shaft journalled in said head; a rotatable countershaft journalled in said head with its axis at an angle to the axis of said actuator shaft; spaced miter pinions secured to said countershaft; an idler miter gear rotatably mounted in said head in mesh with said pinions; means operatively connecting said miter gear to a Wringer roller; a worm on said actuator shaft; a shiftable worm wheel rotatable on said countershaft in meshed engagement with said worm; coupling means on said worm wheel and the proximate portions of said miter pinions; and means carried by said qhead for shifting said Worm wheel operable to selectively couple and uncouple said worm wheel to said miter pinions to drive the wringer roller.

2. A wringer drive as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator shaft is connected to and r0 '8 tated by the motor that drives the laundry apparatus, and said worm wheel is normally uncoupled from said miter pinions.

3. In a wringer drive for laundry apparatus including a supporting head, the combination comprising rotatable countershaft means journaled in said head with its axis on a horizontal plane, spaced miter gear pinions operatively associated with said countershaft means, an idler miter gear in mesh with said pinions and operatively connected to a wringer roller, an actuator shaft journaled in said head with its axis at an angle to the axis of the countershaft, a worm and a shiftable worm wheel in meshed engagement and respectively operatively associated with said actuator shaft and said countershaft, coupling means operatively associated with said worm wheel and the proximate portions of said miter pinions, and means carried by said head for shifting said worm Wheel operable to selectively couple and uncouple said Worm wheel to said miter pinions to drive the wringer roller.

CLIFFORD T. BEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,154,035 Locke Sept. 21, 1915 1,169,781 Eden Feb. 1, 1916 1,373,556 Green Apr. 5, 1921 1,543,106 Howe June 23, 1925 1,565,000 Barnes Dec. 8, 1925 1,570,920 Patelski Jan. 26, 1926 1,977,269 Etten Oct. 16, 1934 2,097,729 Mall Nov. 2, 1937 2,110,469 Nardone Mar. 8, 1938 2,114,982 Jackson Apr. 19, 1938 2,174,787 Holland Oct. 3, 1939 2,336,233 Dunham Dec. 7, 1943 2,387,686 7 Moon Oct. 16, 1945 

